UTTAR PRADESH JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY

The Oriental flying gurnard, Dactyloptena orientalis (Cuvier, 1829) (Dactylopteridae), of the southwest coast of India was examined for metazoan parasites. These bycatch species are beneficial in studying benthic ecosystem dynamics and are also utilised as a raw material in the fish meal industry. Reports on parasites of this species are scarce. During the present study, 42 fish were examined for metazoan parasites. Altogether six species of parasites were encountered from infected fishes, with an overall prevalence of 95.2%; comprises of two species of digenea, Anisoporus orientalis and Stephanostomum sp. (larval stage); one each of monogenea, Amphibdelloides sp.; nematode, Hysterothylacium sp. (larval stage); acanthocephala, Serrasentis sp. and Praniza larvae, Gnathia sp. Among the total 1983 parasites collected, monogenea was the most prevalent parasite (71.4%). The present report forms the first record of Anisoporus orientalis and Praniza larvae from the southwest coast of India. The acanthocephala, Serrasentis sp., forms a new host record; and the generic diagnosis of the monogenea, Amphibdelloides is proposed to emend as “Parasites of fishes” instead of “Parasites of elasmobranchs” as given by Yamaguti (1963).